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Golden Chai Honey Banana Bread

Golden Chai Honey Banana Bread is a cozy, aromatic twist on classic banana bread. Sweet ripe bananas blend with warm chai spices, rich honey, and a hint of vanilla for a moist, tender loaf bursting with comforting flavor.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Breakfast, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 325

Ingredients
  

For the bread:
  • 3 very ripe bananas about 1 ¼ cups mashed
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted and slightly browned
  • ½ cup honey
  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup quick oats plus extra for topping
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
For the brown butter drizzle:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of sea salt

Equipment

  • Whisk
  • Bowl
  • Bread Pan

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
  2. Melt butter until golden brown and nutty; let cool.
  3. In a bowl, whisk mashed bananas, honey, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and browned butter.
  4. Stir in Greek yogurt.
  5. In another bowl, combine flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
  6. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet until just combined.
  7. Pour into pan; top with oats and drizzle honey.
  8. Bake 55–65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  9. Cool in pan 10 minutes; transfer to rack.
  10. For drizzle: brown butter, stir in honey, vanilla, and salt; drizzle over warm bread.

Notes

Recipe Notes
  • Use extra ripe bananas for the best flavor — deeply speckled or nearly black bananas give natural sweetness and a caramelized depth.
  • Browning the butter adds a nutty, toffee-like flavor that pairs beautifully with the warm chai spices. Keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
  • Honey gives natural moisture and a gentle floral sweetness. You can use pure maple syrup instead, but the flavor will shift slightly.
  • For a stronger chai taste, increase the cinnamon to 1½ teaspoons and the cardamom to ¾ teaspoon.
  • Yogurt helps keep the crumb tender and moist — Greek yogurt or plain whole milk yogurt both work well.
  • Don’t overmix the batter once you add the dry ingredients; a light hand keeps the bread soft and fluffy.